Yarn feeding means



Janv. 14, 1958 E. G. HILL 2,819,582

YARN FEEDING MEANS Jan. 14, 1958 E'. G. HILL YARN FEEDING MEANS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1955 Jan. 14, 1958 E. G. HILL 2,819,582

l YARN FEEDING MEANS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 22, 1955 INVENTOR. if M Jan. 14, 1958A E. G. HILL 2,819,582

. YARN FEEDING MEANS Filed March 22, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 DVVENYUR.

Jan. 14, 1958I Filed March 22, 1955 E. G. HILL YARN FEEDING MEANS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ww www limi] www {wl/Z www. @www jp .47' TOP/V575.

Jan. 14, 1958 E. G. HILL 2,819,582

. YARN FEEDING MEANS Filed March 22, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent i YARN FEEDING MEANS Application March zz, 195s, serial No. 495,923

12 claims. (c1. 57;-90)

1 'I'hisiinvention relates to frames such as are used in the textile industry for inserting twist into continuous `filament yarns, of which those made of nylon and of the material known commercially as Daeron are typical. More particularly, the invention is concerned with novel means for use in such frames for feeding the yarn by `drawing `it from the producers package and supplying it tothe bobbin, onwhich it isto be wound. e A twist ingframe equipped with the yarn feeding means of the invention may be advantageously employed for inserting a low twist into yarns supplied by the producer with Zeerotwist as a preliminary to the operation in which the yarns are given their ultimate twist, and a frame ernbdying the invention and suitable for the stated purpose wilLaccordingly, be illustrated and described in detail.`

In the processing of continuous filament yarns supplied without twist by the producer, it has been found desirable to`insert thedesired finaltwist into the`yarns` in stages,

in the first ofwhich the yarns are given `a low twist. `Such preliminary low twisting is particularly importantin connection with yarns made up of tine filaments, such as those of 1 or 1% denier, and a twist approximately turn per inch is`satisfactory for the purpose. However, ring twisting frames of present construction, which operate with a spindle speed of about 7000 RJP. M. maximum, cannot` insert less than about 2 turns pei' inch because the yarn feeding means now used cannot feed tion, :the feeding means at each position onthe frame t.

includesan assembly of rolls, at least one of which is driven through gearing by a continuously rotating shaft, and, while such `a device may be stopped, when required, byseparation of the gears, the rate of `feed is limited by the speed, at which `the gears can be brought into mesh. Present ring twisting frames can, accordingly, not perform the preliminary low twist operation described with the desired eiiiciency, because their production rate is relatively low and they insert a higher twist into the yarn than is necessary.

The present invention is directed to the provision of novel `yarn feeding means for use in ring twisting frames, which overcome the disadvantages of the priorconstructions. `The new means for feeding a single yarn corn- Patented Jan. 14, 1958 2 break, a stop motion operates to disengage the clutch and apply a brake to the roll. The roll may, accordingly, be driven at high speed but is brought quickly to rest, when necessary. Also, the long contact of the yarn with the roll insures a` highly uniform feed with little or no slippage. The feeding means include other features of novelty, which will be described in' detail hereafter.

For a better understanding of the invention,-reference may be `made` to the accompanying drawings, `in which:r Fig.` 1 `is a fragmentary front elevational viewfof one section of a twisting frame equipped with the yarn feed# ing means of the invention; e r t 1"" Fig. 2 is a sectional viewon the line 2 2 of Fig'l 1'; i Fig. 3 is "a top'pla'n view of the yarn feeding means; Figs. 4; ,5, and 6 are sectional views on the lines 4 4, 5 5, and 6 6, respectively, of Fig. 3;`

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified forrn of the feed rll'lof `the yarn feeding means; i

Fig. 8 is aplan View of a modified form` of the `yarn feeding means with the separator `member shown in longitudinal section; i i e Fig.` 9 isa side elevy tional view `of the yarnfeeding means`of`Fig."8f;` l l Fig. l0 is a plan view of a form of the yarnfeeding meansincluding another `form of the separator member;

e `Fig. l1` is a View "on an enlargedscale of parts shown inFigQZ. n p p `I'he ring` twisting frame illustratedfin thedrawings is n, generallyof standard construction and it," includes the usual endntstands, of which one is shownat, andfa numberl of rails,such as thosetshownrat 21, 22c`onne`cfting the stands. `A bracket 23 is attached to` each stand and upper andlower pairs of rods `24Lextendin'g between the bracketsf carry` attachments `:25 clamped thereon and supporting aproducers package of the yarn Y for each position on the frame, that is, at each spindle. One such package is shownat 26 in the form of` a ,lDacron`cake, in which the yarn :is wound on a` tubular eoreto form a cylindrical mass.` `The bracketsj23 have arms` 2,'7 A supporting angle irons `28 running `lengthwisegof the frame and carrying spaced vertical rods 29, ontwhich are mountf ed upper and lower rod guides `30 forther` yarns being withdrawn from theI respective packages;` Fror'n the lower rod 30,each yarn passes to a` guide 31 abovez a tension device 32, which is of the type including a.sta` tionary combr33a anda movable combbacted on by a spring or weight and havingteeth engaging Athe yarn between `adjacent teeth of the stationary combi l'lBelow thetension device, Vthe yarn engages a 1stationary guide 34. Guides 30, 31, and 34rnay be conventional'ceramicrods.`

The twisting frameillustrated is provided. with a device 35for applying coating material to the strandandthe device illustrated is preferred. i

` The device includes a driven roll` 36 lrotating partially immersed in a bath of the coatingliquid contained in a trough 37 and a transfer roll 38 of smaller diameter, which` contacts .roll 36 and is engaged by the strand.

Below the `coating device, the strand passesovera i guide 39 andthenthrough the faller eye 40 forming part prise a relatively large feed roll and a separator and the of a conventional stop motion. The eye 40 is attached to one arrn `41a of a stop motion `lever 42 `pivoted at 43 on a bracket 44 attached to rail 21. The lleiferhaswa second arm 41b `restingupon the endtof a leaf `spring 45 attached to a lever 46 pivotedtin thetlower endwoha link47 pivotally mountedto depend from an1arm48 attached to bracket 44. Link 47.carries.a latch =49 en gageable with the top of atcollar 50@ onca :verticalN push t rod 51, whichfisurgedupwardly by atspringiSZ bearing at 4its Alower end `against a seat V53 on rail 22 4and its upper end against a collar 54 on the rod. Rod 51 has an operating handle 55 and carries a yiixed arm 56 engageable with an 'arm 57, `which forms part'of the feed mechanism.

TWhen the yarn Y is unbroken, the passage sof the `yarn through eye 40 holds lever 42in the erect position shown in Figs` vl and 11, but, when the yarn is broken, the lever swings counter-clockwise until it is stopped by a link 58 pivoted on bracket `44 and en'gageable with a shoulder formed on arm 41a of the lever. In such movement of the lever, its arm 41b acts yon spring45 to rock lever 46 clockwise. A shaft 59 extending between the end stands of the frame oscillates through a small arc throughout the operation of the frame and, when lever 46 is moved clockwise by breakage of Vthe yarn, its end moves into the path of arm 60 on shaft 59 and is pushed outwardly thereby. Such movement of arm 46 causes link 47 to swing counter-clockwise, so that latch 49 on the link is moved away from the top of collar 50 and push rod 51 is free to be raised by its spring 53. The upward movement of the push rod permits a movement of arm 57, which stops the mechanism feeding the yarn, as will be explained.

The feeding mechanism comprises a casting 61 mounted on a rail 62 and containing a bearing 63 for a shaft 64 connected through bevel gearing 65 to a continuously operating drive shaft 66. The shaft 64 carries a disc 67 of ferromagnetic material having a hub 67a pinned 'to the shaft and, outwardly from the disc, the shaft carries a 'feed roll 68 loosely mounted on the shaft and having a bearing sleeve 69 encircling the shaft. The feed roll has a closed end 70 and the disc 67 and the end section 70 of the roll serve as the elements of the clutch, by which the roll can be connected to the shaft. The roll `is enclosed within a sleeve 71 having a smooth outer surface and formed with a radial ange 71a, which lies within an annular recess in one face of a ring gear 72 secured to the ange in any suitable way as by means of rivets 73.

An annulus 74 of friction material, such as cork, is secured to the outer face of the end section 70 of feed roll 68 within the sleeve 71 and the end section 70 is formed with a plurality of like recesses extending inwardly from its outer face. The recesses are equidistaut from the axis of the roll -68 and equally spaced about the axis. Each recess contains a permanent 'magnet 75, which `is cylindrical in form vand `has fa transverse recess 75a vat its outer end lto form pole pieces. vEach magnet `also has an axial bore Saudis heldin place against a washer 76 `of cushioning .material 'seated atthe bottom of its recess by a T-bolt .77 extending through the bore and Washer with its head lyingin '.the recess 75a. The bolt extends through anfopening fthroughfthe bottom ofthe recess and carries nuts yI8 bearing `against ythe inner 'face of end section 70. The :ends of the `pole lpieces lof the magnets lie inward from zthe Iplaneof thevexposed face of the annulus 74 and, when the clutch is engaged with the face of disc 67 in contact with annulus "74, thereis 'a smallair gap between each -magnet and `disc :57. The width lof the gap can be varied as desired by tightening the bolts f77 to adjust the position of the magnets within the recesses, such adjustment being permitted by the cushioning washers 76.

A rod 79 is mounted in seats .in ears 61a on casting 61 and carries `thearm 57 engaging the projection S6 on the push .rod .51. A pair of arms I8'0 are rigidly attached to rod 79 and each arm carries a pad 81 of friction material, which is adapted to bear on the flat outer face 72a of the .ring gear 72, which serves as abrake surface. One of the 'ar'ms '80 has an extension 81a, to which 'is attached one fend of a lspring 82, 'the other `end of which is connected to lan 'eye 83 at the -end of 'a`bolt 84l threaded through 1an Vear 61boncasting 61. The spring tends to rock 'rod .to-cause the .arms 8l) to swing toward the Abrake surface ongear 72 fandapply :the brak'e padsvsl thereto and 'the faction ,fof Lthe spring lmay be :adjusted by adjusting rod to force the brake pads into contact with the brake surface is restricted by a stop screw mounted through an ear 61a` of casting 61 and engageable with extension 81a.

A separator roll 86 is mounted adjacent the feed roll 68 on a rod 87 having one end rigidly secured in a hollow boss 61d integral with casting 61 and the roll is provided with a gear 88 meshing with an idler gear 89. Gear 89 is freely rotatable on a rod rigidly secured in a hollow boss v'61e forming part of casting 61 `and meshes with gear 72. The rod 87 supports the roll 86 for 'rotation on an axis, which intersects the axis of rotation of feed roll 68 and lies at an angle to both vertical and horizontal planes containing the axis of roll 68. Because of the angular relav tion of the axis of roll 86 to that vof roll 68, the teeth of gear 68 are appropriately skewed.

The feed roll and separator at each position of the twisting frame extend through openings in a shield 290 of channel shape, which extends lengthwise of the frame betweenfthe end stands and is supported on parts of the castings 61 at `therespective positions. The shield is provided with a yarn guide 91 below each feed roll.

The yarn leaving guide 91 passes through a conventional pigtail guide 92 lying directly above a spindle 93, which extends through a ring in a ring rail 94 carried by a support 95 and carries a bobbin 96. The yarn from guide 92 passes to the usual traveller V97 on the ring and is `twisted and wound on the bobbin by the rotation ofthe spindle.

In the operation of the frame, each yarn is drawn from its supply package 26 by the associated yarn feeding means and, for this purpose, the yarn is wound a number of times about the driven feed roll 68 and the associated separator 86. The long contract of the yarn with the roll 68 causes the yarn to be drawn from the `package and the skewed position of the separator causes the convlutions of yarn about the roll and separator to be kept apart, as the yarn moves lengthwise of the roll during its contact with the roll. So long as the yarn is unbroken, the magnets hold the elements of the clutch engaged and the feed roll is rotated but, if the yarn breaks, the stop motion releases push rod 51 and it moves upwardly, so that the spring 82 swings rod 79 to move the brake pads 81 against the brake surface on gear '72. The pressure of the pads 81 against the brake surface moves the feed roll away from disc 67 a short distance, such as 1/16", and thus widens the air gap between the magnets and the disc, so that the Aforce of attraction of the magnets vis weakened and the brake pads can stop the feed roll. The movement of the feed roll Vaway from the discby the brake pads is not suiciently great toy prevent the magnets from causing the roll lto move back against the disc when the pads are released from the brake surface. Also, the idler Apulley 89 has so wide a 'face that its teeth continue in mesh with Vthose of `ring 'gear 7`2'when the feed roll lies against or is spaced 'from thedisc.

`Whenever the feed roll is to be stopped -for any reason, this "can `be Idone by swinging ylever 42 counter-clockwise to move vlever 46, so that its end lies yin the path of arm 60 on -the oscillating shaft 59. Upon the next-oscillation of the shaft to swing the arm toward the lever, the lever is moved `endwise and swings link 47 to -free latch 49 from collar 50. The push -rod 5:1 may then be raised `by its spring 52. p

In the yarn feeding means described, the feed roll is of relatively large diameter and the auxiliary or separator roll much smaller, as, for example, the diameter of 4the feed roll may be 4 and rthat of the separator `roll 1%. Such a combination of rolls with the separator roll positively driven has been found most satisfactory, vparticularly 'in the feeding of fine yarns without twist. For some purposes, Vit Vis satisfactory to make yuse of a r'separator roll, which is rotatable by the yarn, and this modification is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In the modied construction, the feed roll 68' is mounted for free rotation on a shaft 64 and it is enclosed within a sleeve 71 having a ange 71a, the outer face of which serves as brake surface. The shaft 64 is mounted in bearings in a casting,` 61 and the casting is formed with a boss 61d, in which is rigidly mounted a rod 87 supporting a` separator roll 86. Ball bearings 98 are mounted between the rod and the roll at opposite ends of the latter, so that the roll rotates freely and can be readily turned by the yarn wrapped about it. Preferably, the roll is about 3A in diameter between its ends. As in the construction shown in Figs. 17, incl., the rod 87' is mounted, so that roll 86 rotates on an axis, which intersects the axis of rotation of roll 68 and lies at an angle to both vertical and horizontal planes containing the axis of roll 68'. Roll 68 and 86 extend through openings in a shield 90.

A third modification of the feeding means is illustrated in Fig. and this construction is the same as that shown in Fig. 8 and 9, except for the separator. Like parts have, accordingly, been identified by the same reference characters in all three figures. In the construction shown in Fig. 10, the separator is a stationary guide 99, which may be of any of the usual materials employed for thread guides, such as metal or ceramic material. The guide is mounted on a stationary rod 87 and has the same relation as the separator rolls 86 and 86 to the feed roll 68.

In the construction above described, the clutch, through which the feed roll is driven, has dat engaging surfaces on the disc 67 and the annulus 74, and the magnets are mounted in recesses in the end section of the roll. It is to be understood that the clutch could have frusto-conical engaging surfaces and the magnets could be mounted in recesses in the disc rather than in the end section of the roll. If the magnets are mounted in the disc, the end section of the roll must be made of ferro-magnetic material.

The magnetic clutch illustrated and above described is preferred, since it is simple in construction, of great durability, requires little or no attention, and needs no lubrication, so that there is no danger of lubrication smudges occurring on the yarn. For some purposes, a spring-actuated clutch may be preferred and that construction is shown in Fig. 7. Such a clutch includes a disc 100 rigidly mounted on a shaft 101, the disc and shaft corresponding, respectively, to disc 67 and shaft 64. A feed roll 102 is loosely mounted on shaft 101 and it is enclosed within a sleeve 103 having a radial flange 103:1. A at ring 104 of friction material, `such as cork, is secured to the end of roll 102 in opposition to the face of disc 101. Roll 102 has a hub 102:1, within which is mounted a bearing sleeve 105, and the sleeve projects beyond the hub and has one race of a ball bearing 106 rigidly secured to it adjacent its rear end. The outer race of the ball bearing is engaged by a Washer 107 beneath a screw 100 threaded into the end of shaft 101. A spring 109 bears against the inner race of the ball bearing and against the hub 102a and normally holds roll 102 with the flat ring 104 against the face of disc 100, so that the roll is driven by the disc. The roll with the spring-actuated clutch described is employed in the same manner as the other feed rolls and the clutch is disengaged and the roll stopped by the mechanism employed with the construction shown in Figs. 1-7, incl., and including a rod 79 with arms 80 carrying brake pads S1 adapted to bear on the face of flange 103:1.

The new yarn feeding means in any of the forms described may be threaded with the feed and separator rolls at rest and, since the feed roll is driven through a friction clutch instead of through meshing gears, there is no limitation imposed on the speed of the feed roll by the means, through which it is driven. The yarn has a long Contact with the feed roll, so that there is little likelihood of slippage, and tine yarns of zero twist can be fed at the rapid rate` requiredwitha high spindle rotation to insert a low twist,su`chas fi, turn per inch, in the yarn. The feedingmeans thus overcomes the objections to those heretofore used. i

l. Ina textile frame havinga support fora package of a strand,` strand feeding means for drawing the strand from thepackage, which comprises a continuously rotating shaft, `a clutch` element mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, a second ,clutch element loose on the shaft, the elements having faces adapted to be engaged witha non-slipping` contact and one of the elements being made of a ferrofmagnetic material and the other carryingl a permanentmagnet urging the elements together with their faces in Contact, an annular brake surface` on the loose element, a feedroll connected concentrically to the loose `element,xa separator mounted adjacent the feed roll, ,and `means for moving the elements apart including a brake shoe movable against the brake surface to move the loose element away from the element fast on the shaft and to brake the rotation of the loose element and a member for moving the brake shoe toward and away from the brake surface.

2. The strand feeding means of claim 1, in which a spring urges the member to move the brake shoe toward the brake surface and the member is held against the action of the spring by means made eective by contact with the unbroken strand and acting to release the member when the strand breaks.

3. The strand feeding means of claim l, in which the magnet is mounted on its clutch element for movement axially of the clement and is held in place by means operable to adjust the position of the magnet and thereby vary the force of its attraction on the ferro-magnetic clutch element when the faces of the elements are in contact.

4. The strand feeding means of claim 3, in which the magnet is mounted in an axial recess in its clutch element and is held by a bolt against a resilient seat in the recess and the bolt can be turned to change the position of the magnet in the recess.

5. The strand feeding means of claim 1,` in which the feed roll includes a central part encircling the shaft and a removable sleeve enclosing the central part.

6. The strand feeding means of claim 5, in which the brake surface is carried by a ring attached to the sleeve.

7. The strand feeding means of claim 5, in which the separator is a roll of less diameter than the feed roll and mounted on an axis intersecting the axis of the feed roll and lying at an angle to both vertical and horizontal planes containing the axis of the feed roll, the separator is provided with a gear, and a ring gear on the removable sleeve meshes with the gear on the separator to drive the separator.

8. The strand feeding means of claim 1, in which the feed roll projects through an opening in a fixed shield and has a radial flange of greater diameter than the opening, the flange lying on the same side of the shield as the clutch elements, so that the shield limits the separation of the elements.

9. The strand feeding means of claim 8 in which a guide for the strand is mounted on the shield below the feed roll.

10. In a textile frame having a support for a package of a strand, the combination of a continuously rotating shaft, a clutch element mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, a second clutch element loose on the shaft, the elements having faces adapted to be engaged with a non-slipping contact, a feed roll connected concentrically to the second element, a separator member mounted adjacent the feed roll, the feed roll and separator member cooperating to draw from the package a strand wound in a plurality of convolutions about the roll :and member, means urging the elements together to cause the faces to '7 be 'engaged 'and `the second element driven `by 'the -first, means for moving the yelements apart including a brake shoe engageable with the second element to move it away from the rst element, a lever operable to move the shoe into engagement with the second clutch element, and 'a spring urging the lever to operating position, .and a stop motion including means for holding the lever inoperative and'means held inactive bythe unbroken strand and acting upon a strand break to put the holding means out of action and release the lever for movement to operating rposition by the spring.

11. The strand feeding means of claim 1, in which the member is urged by a spring to apply the brake shoe to the brake surface, the movement of the member by the spring is limited by an adjustable stop, and the member is held inoperative `by means `made effective" by contact with the unbroken strand and acting to release vthe member when the strand breaks.

13 1'2. The strand feeding means of claim 8, lin which the separatoris -aroll provided with a gear, a ring gear meshin'g `with the gear on the separator is mounted on the flange-onth'e'feed roll, and th'e'separator projects through an opening in the fshield.

References yCited in the rile of this patent IUNITED STATES PATENTS 11,516,076 `Bradley Nov. 18, 1924 2,411,055 Rich NOV. 12, v1946 2,474,912 vPollock July 5, 1949 f2,481,185 Winslow Sept. 6, 1949 2,646,145 Durston a- July 21, 1953 l2,702,106 yStlfahota etfal Feb. 15, 19,55 2,714,947 Dolude Aug. .9, 11955 

